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Market Access Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Program Overview
| What is the Market Access Program? | |
| The Market Access Program (MAP) uses funds appropriated by Congress to: encourage the development, maintenance, and expansion of commercial agricultural export markets; stimulate and increase interest of small companies in exporting; open new markets; counter unfair foreign competition; and increase commercial sales of U.S. agricultural products. The program reaches virtually every corner of the globe to help hold established markets and build new ones for U.S. farm products. The MAP is administered by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. | |
| How does the program work? | |
| Each year a notice is published in the Federal Register announcing the application period for participation in the Market Access Program. This announcement states the terms and requirements for applications and the criteria for allocating available funds. The applicant submits a written proposal containing basic information about the applicant, a program justification, a strategic plan, and an activity plan. The applications are reviewed by FAS marketing specialists and those that present the best opportunities for developing or expanding export markets are approved. Upon approval, budget ceilings are established and the available money is allocated amongst all the approved activities. Expenses incurred by the participants during the program year are itemized and submitted to FAS for reimbursement. All expenses are subject to audits for which the participants are held accountable for the maintenance of proper documentation. | |
| How do I apply? | |
| If you are a producer or exporter and want to participate, contact a trade association that represents your specific product. If no trade association exists, contact one of the four State regional trade groups: Eastern US Agricultural & Food Export Council (EUSAFEC), Mid-America International Agri-Trade Council (MIATCO), Southern US Trade Association (SUSTA), and Western US Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA). If you are a non-profit U.S. agricultural trade organization, a U.S. agricultural cooperative, or a State agency, you may apply during the application period which is announced each year in the Federal Register. A handbook is also available to assist applicants in developing an application. | |
| Explain the allocation process? | |
| The allocation criteria and the required documentation are contained in 7 CFR §1485.13 and §1485.14. Allocations are made only to applicants that can effectively carry out the purposes of the program. The applications are processed in three distinct phases. First, they are subjected to a sufficiency review for regulatory requirements. Then, they are reviewed for management and administrative capability, effective use of evaluations, attache comments, targeted markets, general administrative costs, proposed budgets for small-sized entities, availability and coordination of funding through other USDA export programs, and export effectiveness by commodity marketing specialists from the respective commodity divisions within the Foreign Agricultural Service. And finally, using the funding recommendations from the previous step, they are subjected to a competitive review that compares the relative performance of each applicant based on four weighted criteria: contributions (40%), export performance (30%), export goals (15%), and accuracy of past projected export goals (15%). | |
Financial Management
| What activities qualify for program funds? | |
| A participant may seek reimbursement for an incurred expenditure for an approved activity that will not be reimbursed by any other source. Eligible expenses include: production and distribution of various types of advertising, in-store and food service promotions, product demonstrations, fees for participation in retail, trade, and consumer exhibits and shows. For generic promotion activities only, additional activities such as: cost and living expenses to U.S. citizen employees or U.S. citizen contractors stationed overseas, expenditures associated with trade shows, seminars, and educational training conducted in the United States; and demonstration projects are eligible. Many of these expenses are subject to limitations. | |
| What is the reimbursement rate for branded promotion? | |
| The reimbursement rates for branded promotion are equal to the percentage of U.S. origin content of the promoted agricultural commodity or a rate of 50 percent, whichever is the lesser. | |
| Why are reimbursement claims limited to no less than $10,000? | |
| Regulations require participants to consolidate their reimbursement claims to ensure a more effective use of resources and to accelerate the reimbursement process. The final claim for a participant's activity year may be less than the $10,000 minimum. | |
| Is there a limitation on the number of years that a participant can request reimbursement for branded promotion? | |
| The Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1993 established a five-year limit on promotional assistance for brand products. That is, assistance to promote a specific brand product in a single country is limited to five years. This does not mean five consecutive years - simply five years total. | |
| Are brand companies allowed to use MAP funds for expenses associated with trade shows or other activities conducted in the U.S.? | |
| Program funds can be used for brand expenditures, other than travel, associated with FAS accepted trade shows, seminars, or educational training; including participation fees, booth construction, transportation of related materials, rental of space and equipment, and duplication of related printed materials. | |
| Explain Contributions? | |
| Contributions are the costs incurred and paid from the participant's own resources in support of approved activities. Contributions can be in the form of cash, compensation paid to personnel, costs of acquiring materials, supplies or services, cost of office space and administrative overhead, and other costs of doing business. Expenditures that will be reimbursed from other sources cannot be considered contributions. The program agreement will specify the amount of contribution required in the project agreement approval letter. | |
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